"Bye April!" Nina whooped, dragging Matt behind her as she disappeared into the crowd. Everyone had now left me, meaning my worst fear was complete - being left alone in a party among strangers.

Music blared from speakers on the walls, the wooden panels vibrating with the bass. I tugged my dress down self-consciously and scanned the crowd for familiar faces. Pushing my way through the dimly lit room, I stumbled out of an open doorway. The noise was muffled here and I sighed, massaging the sides of my temple as my body collapsed into a nearby chair.

"Hi," a voice said from the doorway.

It was Noah. He was dressed as a zombie, an axe sticking out of his head, sticky with fake blood. I didn't respond, my eyes wide.

"What do you want?"

He sighed and spread his knees, leaning his elbows on them. "I know you're angry at me – but don't believe everything Aiden tells you. If he told you that I changed Kayla, then he's wrong. It's not like that at all."

I scowled. "Aiden hasn't said anything to me - and even if he did, I know better than to believe him. But I know that you've done something to Kayla to make her hate us, and I want to know what."

He raised his palms. "April, being mates with Aiden has changed you. I thought you were capable of feeling emotions Aiden has subjected himself to not feel. I thought you would give us a chance to explain."

I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, sighing as I observed him closely. "If you want me to hear you out then fine."

He smiled slightly. "I think I know why Kay hates you. I think it's because you're so very different." His tone changed. "Being with me has made her stronger, more confident and able to speak her mind. Being mates with me has awakened her senses – it's given her a sense of loyalty - to my pack. Not to you or Nina. It's like she can see things clearer now." The atmosphere in the room dropped several degrees.

I stood up dizzily, backing away from him. "I don't know why you're being like this Noah. Kayla doesn't hate us – you made her hate us. Being mates with a werewolf doesn't change you like that!"

He stood up too. "Well you thought wrong – now that you're in the werewolf world April, things are different - loyalty does not lie with one's character - it lies with your blood, your soul - your pack."

"Well, I don't agree with those freaking laws. In case you haven't realized, me and Kayla are humans – not werewolves – humans." I emphasised, making him narrow his eyes at me. "Therefore, we are entitled to believing what we think is right. Not what you think is right. And I say that your character does determine your value - blood means nothing. Not until you give it meaning." I said matter-of-factly, knowing that my tone made him angry.

"April, you're being ignorant. You don't understand this world yet."

I frowned at him. "I don't understand, Noah, why are you so determined to ruin our lives? What have I done wrong to you?"

His expression darkened. "It's Aiden – he's the one I'm trying to punish. The one way to hurt him will be to hurt you."

I froze. "What has Aiden done to you?"

His lips twisted bitterly. "Let's just say we had a disagreement. He took someone from me, which means I want to take someone from him. An eye for an eye."

"Whatever happened between you and Aiden, you need to resolve yourself – not bring others into. Especially Kayla. She's done nothing wrong." I said shakily, my mind running through possibilities.

"April, I can't. We're mates now - she's with the Pinewood Pack. Her loyalty lies with us, so our feelings are one. An eye for an eye." He turned, walking away from me.

I was left staring at his back and then nothing. "An eye for an eye," I repeated to myself softly. "Leaves the whole world blind."

* * * * * *

"Hey April!" Diego yelled from somewhere on the right.

I glanced around wildly, struggling to locate his voice when two hands poked me in my sides playfully, making me jump and laugh as I turned. Diego smiled at me, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He must have sensed something in my expression too, because he jerked his head towards the open door.

"Wanna leave?" It wasn't much of a question, rather a statement.

I nodded gratefully and he nodded understandingly and took me by the crook of my elbow, pushing a path for us.

I leaned against the wall, the coldness of the bricks burning my skin. Diego stepped besides me and leaned against the wall also, looking a hundred times more effortless as he did so. I turned to look at him, my mouth tugging downwards at his expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked softly, causing him to look up.

He faked a smile and shook his head at me. "You don't fool me Diego." I paused for a moment, thinking. "Is it... Is it Nina?"

His head whipped up. "How – How did you know?" He asked in disbelief.

"Because I'm a genius," I joked lightly my smile drooping slightly as I remember what Nina had been doing in the party. I remember her talking to Diego with such adoration but when Matt came up from behind her and took her to the dance floor, something changed in their eyes. It was rare for Nina to show sadness and the fact that they were both so upset to be drawn apart allowed a few ideas to form in my head.

"Is it that obvious that I like her?" He asked, sighing and dropping his head into his hands. I laughed softly at his reaction.

"Don't worry... Nina's a good girl and I – I can tell she likes you too," I said hesitantly, "But I can ask her of course, just to make sure," I said quickly – I didn't want to be getting his hopes up if my stupid Cupid skills were inaccurate.

"Really? You'd do that for me?"

I nodded seriously. "For you? Always. Is it – Is it a... 'mate' thing?" I said making indication marks with my fingers.

"I think so... I mean, I'm pretty sure it is – I felt a pull to her almost instantly and it kills me to see her with other guys. I've gotten to know a lot recently - she makes me laugh like no-one else – she just... gets me. If that's not a mate, I don't know what is." He explained, rubbing his neck awkwardly.

I paused, not knowing how to respond. "Well... Nina's never really known how to show her feelings so she tends to just ignore them. I know she likes you – I can see it on her face. But, I'll talk to her anyway." Suddenly, an idea popped into my head.

I grinned broadly and straightened up. "Diego, I can be Cupid!" Seeing his startled expression, I quickly launched into an explanation. "I can help you and Nina get together and realize how perfect you are for each other." I said excitedly, jumping around as I talked. Diego snorted with laughter.

"Okay April, you can be Cupid for us then," he smiled.

"Thanks, Diego. Thank God I like you." I sighed.

He frowned at me. "What?"

I froze, realizing what I had said. "No! I don't mean it like that! I mean, I'm glad that I like you as a friend - that you're a good guy. If Nina got together with someone I didn't like, it would be pretty hellish, so I'm glad I like you." I explained sheepishly, my eyes averted to the floor. He made a cooing noise and ruffled my hair, looking bashful at my compliment.

"Diego, come on. Dance with me!" Nina's voice carried over the wind. She bounded out of the door, her dress riding up slightly in the wind, causing Diego to stare with an open mouth. I frowned and smacked his arm snapping him out of it – I'm going to be your Cupid, but that doesn't mean you can stare my best friend up. "April, come on!" Nina bellowed.

"Where's Matt?" I asked cautiously, not wanting Diego's feelings to be crushed if Matt suddenly turned up.

"Screw Matt," she said scowling and pulling Diego so that he stumbled after her. He looked back at me worriedly and I grinned and put my thumbs up at him, winking.

"Still here Cruella?" Aiden's familiar voice called, making my heart flutter at the sheer sound and thought of him being there. I turned, not bothering to argue with him about my nickname.

"Go away." I said half-heartedly, pushing myself off the wall to face him. My breathing quickened when I realized how damn good-looking he looked in the moonlight.

"I don't think so." Noticing my disdain at the cigarette he tried and failed to hide behind his back, he sighed dejectedly and threw it down, crushing it with the sole of his shoe.

"I didn't tell you to put out your cigarette," I pointed out.

"Yeah, well you would have eventually started lecturing me about 'how it's so bad for my lungs." I frowned at his lame imitation of my voice.

"I don't talk like that! And it is bad for you." I argued, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Yes you do – you have this annoying tendency to go all man-like in your speech when you're arguing," he pointed out.

"Well – well, you," I struggled to think of something to say. "Well, you have this annoying tendency to be a class A jerk all the time," I finally spluttered.

"And you also have this really annoying tendency to blank out all the time; one minute you're on Planet Earth and the next, you're lost in your thoughts. Do you know how long it takes to get your attention?"

"Well, you're just as infuriating, Aiden. I can't stand it when you act all high and mighty, like you're some God that needs to be worshipped all the time at school. And the worst part is, people actually like that about you!" I snapped, my chest heaving as I spoke.

"Whatever," he said rolling his eyes and staring out across the field, towards the trees. "Want to go somewhere?" Aiden asked suddenly, his hair tousled in the wind as he smirked down at me.

"With you?"

"No, with Batman." He snapped sarcastically. I stayed silent. "Yes, with me."

"Where?" I asked uncertainly, tangling my fingers together nervously.

"Ah, that's a secret," he said leaning down and winking at me. My breathing stopping momentarily at our closeness.

"Can you tell me if we're going is even legal?" I asked, as he gestured for me to follow him.

"It's secret – you'll see when we get there." He said, not bothering to turn around. I grunted in response and seethed behind him at his sudden rudeness – I stopped in my tracks suddenly, wrapping my arms around myself. Why the heck was I following this jerk?

He sensed my stop and turned around in irritation. "Now what?"

"I have no idea why I'm listening to you," I replied, narrowing my eyes at him. "Knowing you, you'll probably try and murder me." He narrowed his eyes back and took a deep breath, faking a smile, as though he was trying to hold in all of his anger.

"Come on, April. Stop being so childish," he said quietly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Aiden, if you don't tell me where we're going, I refuse to move."

"Fine, stay put." He snapped, his fingers automatically moving to retrieve a cigarette from his pocket. I watched him hypnotically as he lit it, staring at the small orange ring of fire at the periphery end, watching how he savoured it, his expression relaxing.

"I'm going back inside." I announced, irritated at Aiden's sudden mood change.

"Fine. Scoot."

"Don't talk to me like I'm a dog!"

His expression went dark at my protests; rolling his eyes, he turned away from me in frustration.

"You need a serious attitude change," I commented, examining my nails, too nervous to look up and see his expression.

"And you need to stop commenting on what doesn't concern you," he retorted, his eyes flashing darkly at me. I grimaced and clenched my fists by my side.

"I don't. You're the one who always acts as though he doesn't care about anything or anyone. You always shut people out. You're the one who is an evil jerk - you can ruin people's lives with a snap of your fingers! You're the one everyone is scared of and I have no damn idea why we are mates. We're too different to be together! I mean boys don't even talk to me or notice my presence – I'm the girl who just wants to get the hell out of high school and get on with life. You're the guy who drinks and parties and gets together with girls who look like their damn models. So you tell me, how the hell are we of all people mates?" I yelled, the words spilling off the tip of my tongue like fire.

Now where the hell did that come from? I thought, shocked at myself.

His expression masked itself again. "It's not an act when I'm a total ass to everyone – it comes naturally. And you think I want to be in this position too? I don't know why we're fucking mates! It doesn't make sense. You're so innocent and good and... I'm just..." he trailed off running his hand through his hair again in frustration.

I sighed wearily, the fight leaving my body. "Look Aiden – I just want out. I'm sick off all of these lies and deals. I want to go home, and by home I mean England. I miss my family, I miss talking to Nina and Kayla, I miss the way things were before.. bef-" He interrupted me quietly.

"Before you met me," he finished, looking downwards at the ground. My heart shattered hearing him say it out loud, but it was true and we both knew it. I felt my eyes stinging, my stomach burning with guilt.

A few moments of tense silence whirled around us. "And did you ever consider that I might miss the days when I hadn't met you? I've changed... And I don't like it," he muttered quietly. I opened my mouth, but I realized there were no words to say anymore.

He turned away from me; he was a dark shadow illuminated in the moonlight, walking away from me. I don't know what came over me but I couldn't help but run after him and fall into step with him, looking sideways at him through my lashes nervously. He was an asshole, but I couldn't leave him like that – I know that the good Aiden was lurking underneath that facade he put on. As much as I hated to admit it, I knew that it was unfair of me to have lashed out at him like that.

"I'm sorry Aiden," I mumbled quietly. "I'll come with you – I wouldn't miss seeing what you wanted to show me for all the cupcakes in the world," I said hopefully, smiling up at him and making a scouts honour sign in a futile attempt to sweeten him up. He remained silent.

"Friends?" I asked quietly, sticking my hand out for him to shake. I hated being horrible to people and I felt the need to make up with Aiden because deep down.... Deep down, I knew I didn't mean what I had said.

He glanced at me sideways, his long lashes brushing his face; I raised my eyebrows waiting for an answer and gave him a goofy smile to change the tension in the atmosphere. After a few awkward moments of me keeping my hand stuck out, I finally said:

"My hand's kind of getting tired and I'm not going to drop it until you shake it." I said seriously. He barely raised a smile and shook his head at me.

"You never learn do you Cruella?" he said, finally shaking my hand. A coy smile reached my lips at his cool touch and I nodded at him in agreement.

"I never learn do I, Scar?" I said, referring to Aiden's constant reference to Disney villains. This insult seemed to touch a nerve and I smiled dryly to myself, pleased with my pet name.

"Really? You're going to call me Scar?" He said, pouting at my choice in villain.

"If I'm Cruella, then you have to be Scar – it's only logical," I said shrugging my shoulders, a smile tugging upwards at my lips at the change in Aiden's childish expression. In the end, we ended up arguing about which Disney villain was the best, with me rooting for Maleficent and him rooting for Hades. I managed to get that scowl off his face for a while with our pointless arguing, the pit of guilt still burning in my tummy from our words that were exchanged earlier.

We fell into a comfortable silence, with him scowling into the distance as I won the argument after using a little bit of violence and his cold mask was intact once again. But at least you got him to smile for a little while, right? I don't know why it was so important for me to see Aiden smile. I don't know why it made my heart jump every time he did, but all I knew was that it felt heavenly seeing that little dimple form in his cheek as he laughed like a child during our arguments.

I had no idea why I was going with him or where we were going, but all I knew was that it felt right. I felt safe being with him, despite the constant devilish look in his eyes and dark expression and sudden mood changes. It just felt right.